EnviroPress Reporter
In the heart of Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich lands, a familiar hope is stirring once more after Cabinet decided to revitalise the Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) and the Reserved Sectors Policy after years of unfulfilled promises leading to community disaffection.
This is not the first time communities have been told they would directly benefit from the bountiful resources underneath their soils.
In 2013, the initial 61 CSOTs were meant to represent the dream of shared prosperity, yet only 58 even were registred. and many quickly became mired in operational challenges.
The failure was marked by accusations of political interference, mismanaged funds, and broken pledges, still resonate.
However, on June 03, 2025, a different tone emerged from the post-cabinet briefing. The government, acknowledging the deep-seated issues, announced a comprehensive review.
This is not just a tweak; it is a pledge for corporate rescue support for struggling trusts and, crucially, the development of new economic empowerment policies and regulations designed to inject transparency and accountability into the very veins of fund management.
“Government is committed to ensuring that these trusts fulfill their mandate of empowering local communities,” the cabinet briefing declared.
For districts like Bikita, home to one of Africa’s largest lithium deposits, a critical mineral fueling the global electric vehicle and renewable energy revolution, the policy shift is not just news; it is a potential lifeline.
Bernard Hadzirabwi, Bikita’s District Development Coordinator (DDC), barely concealed his optimism.
“We welcome the decision as it has a direct bearing on the livelihoods of the communities that own the resources,” he said.
“Here we have lithium being mined at Bikita Minerals but very little is being given back to the community. If things go as per the government plan, Bikita will be developed and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the province will rise significantly,” said Hadzirabwi.
In Mberengwa, where mining activity steadily expands through Kuvimba Mining House’s mining operations at and around the old Sandawana emeral mine, the new policy pronouncement is a long-awaited chance to finally reap what has been sown.
Mberengwa DDC Wafios Hlavati echoed the sentiment, calling the move “long overdue.”
“The communities are barely reaping anything from the minerals they have and this move will give voice to the communities. Our communities cannot just watch as their resources are extracted and they have nothing to show for it,” said Hlavati.
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), a prominent environmental and natural resources watchdog, expressed cautious optimism in the latest government policy position.
“While the government’s current policy regarding Community Share Ownership Trusts may sound promising in theory, its success hinges not on the number of positions filled, but on the establishment of a robust oversight and credibility framework,” the CNRG warned.
Exiled former minister of Mines, Saviour Kasukuwere, who was the chief proponent of the establishment of the CSOTs back in 2013 under the banner of indigenisation, applauded the move.
“Good move,” he posted on his X account.